Elon Musk’s Tesla-themed diner in Hollywood became the scene of an anti-Musk protest on Sunday.
Protestors gathered outside the futuristic eatery with balloons resembling Musk that were animated to do Nazi salutes, in reference to a widely-criticized gesture that the tech billionaire made on President Donald Trump‘s Inauguration Day.
Newsweek has contacted Musk for comment via Tesla‘s press office.
The Context
The Tesla CEO’s new diner opened in Hollywood on Monday, though it has been unable to escape the wave of protests that have followed Musk’s signature tech company since his work within the Trump administration. Protestors across the world have targeted Tesla in a reaction to Musk’s actions in the Department of Government Efficiency, which the billionaire left in June, and many of those protests have used Nazi imagery after his gesture and support of a right-wing conservative party in last year’s German elections.
What To Know
In images of the protest seen on Musk’s own social media platform, X, formerly Twitter, a group of protesters can be seen standing outside the new diner with two balloons that resemble Musk.
The inflatables have been made to constantly mimic the gesture Musk made in January, while the protesters hold signs that say, “Boycott Tesla.”
Musk responded to the targeting of his new location on X, saying: “This is obviously a paid attack with no popular support, as it is just a few people with public passersby ignoring them. Only question is who’s paying them?”
The Tesla Diner on July 11, 2025, in Hollywood, California.
The Tesla Diner on July 11, 2025, in Hollywood, California.
Getty Images
Protests against Tesla peaked in April and May this year, when Musk was at the height of his power in the White House. Since departing, actions against the company’s vehicles have died down.
Tesla reported its third quarter in a row of declining profits on Thursday, following a disappointing second quarter of 2025 that saw a 16 percent drop in profits.
What People Are Saying
Elon Musk wrote about the diner’s launch on his social media platform X on Monday: “If our retro-futuristic diner turns out well, which I think it will, Tesla will establish these in major cities around the world, as well as at Supercharger sites on long-distance routes. An island of good food, good vibes and entertainment, all while Supercharging!”
What Happens Next
Musk has indicated that Tesla could expand the Diner & Drive-In format to additional urban centers and select Supercharger locations across the U.S. and globally, if the Hollywood pilot generates enough public interest and income.